Lions quarterback Jared Goff opens up about his ‘prime’ target for 2024 and his playoff victory over the Rams.
Jared Goff, quarterback for the Detroit Lions, has one primary goal in 2024: to win the Super Bowl.
The Lions fell just short of their ultimate aim, losing 34-31 to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. However, they demonstrated that they are not only a playoff contender, but also fully prepared to fight for the Super Bowl, leading the Niners by 17 points in the second half.
While speaking on behalf of his partnership with Jared prior to Super Bowl LVIII — Goff gifted his offensive linemen with Breitling watches worth $11,500 each — the 29-year-old quarterback revealed his goal for the 2024 season, as well as his thoughts on beating his former team, the Los Angeles Rams, and his offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s return to Detroit.
“Oh yeah,” Goff answered when asked whether his main goal is to win the Super Bowl next season. “That was how it was this year too.”
The Lions were clearly the Cinderella team of this year’s postseason. While Detroit was expected to be good after flirting with the playoffs last year, they were not supposed to come within a possession of making the Super Bowl.
They did all of this while capturing their first division championship since 1993 and their first playoff victory since 1991. This year’s two playoff victories were the most they’d had in a single playoffs since winning the championship in 1957.
While the loss to the Niners still stings, as Goff admits, the Lions made significant progress for a franchise that had not made the playoffs since 2016. In the midst of their deepest postseason run in almost three decades, Goff led the Lions to a crucial victory over his former team, the Rams, in the wild card stage of the playoffs.
The win was remarkable not only for the Lions’ team history, but also for Goff’s own history with the Rams. Despite leading the Rams to a Super Bowl and three postseason appearances over four full seasons as starter, he was sold to the Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford.
Goff has clearly matured into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks since his arrival in Detroit, with back-to-back seasons of at least 29 touchdowns and 4,400 passing yards. Stafford did, however, win the Super Bowl in his first season as the Rams’ starter.
Despite being traded by the Rams only a few seasons ago, Goff emphasizes that winning the game was about the Lions, not about him defeating his previous team.
“The emotions were there at times,” Goff confesses. “I believe once the game began, it was just a typical game. It was so much more aboutโand I’ve said it so many timesโbut with this deal, they made it about me, them, and everything else. But it was much more about our team winning its first playoff game in almost 30 years. That is so much bigger than anything to do with myself.”
Goff said it was not about exacting “revenge” on the Rams, but rather securing a playoff victory for Detroit.
“It wasn’t some sort of revenge game,” Goff adds. “For me, it was about getting a playoff win for our team.”
With the Lions shedding the playoff loser label this postseason, it’s clear that Detroit needs to take the next step.
While the biggest topic surrounding the team will be Goff’s future with the team – he’s in the final year of his contract at a base salary of $21.7 million, which is a steal given his production and age – Johnson’s return as offensive coordinator ensures the Lions will be a Super Bowl contender again next season.
According to BetMGM’s odds for next season, the Lions are tied for fourth-best betting odds to win the Super Bowl.
Johnson conducted interviews with many NFC teams, including the Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, and Atlanta Falcons. However, one of the most popular coaching possibilities is returning to the Lions after leading the team to a top-five offensive ranking in 2023.
“Huge,” Goff describes the impact of Johnson’s comeback. “He had some possibilities, and I believe that Detroit is ultimately the greatest place for him. We enjoy it, so it’s fantastic for me, the offense, and the entire team.”
Following the Niners’ loss, head coach Dan Campbell took significant criticism for making a pair of moves that saw the Lions go for it on fourth down rather than shoot field goals, resulting in Detroit failing both times.
Despite this, he led the Lions to unprecedented success in only his third season on the job. Detroit has gone from a three-win team to a 12-win outfit in just two seasons.
Goff explains why Campbell, who played tight end in the NFL for 11 years, is such an effective coach.
“He has a great feel for people,” Goff adds. “He has a fantastic understanding of offense, defense, and special teams. He can coach it all. He knows when to push and pull. He has been in our shoes. There’s a lot of respect for him in that aspect.”
Goff describes Campbell as a “dynamic leader” and expresses complete trust in him.
“He gets what we’re going through,” adds Goff. “He is a dynamic leader.” He can accomplish it in a variety of ways, and we all have complete trust in him. He is the best.”
With the Lions’ core players, including wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta, as well as key members of their coaching staff, returning for another season, Detroit will seek to overcome one final obstacle: hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
